Three UFC 121 main card fighters receive six-month suspensions

As favorable as “UFC 121: Lesnar vs. Velasquez” might have been for a number of its participants’ pocketbooks, the event was equally unfortunate where health was concerned with some of the same men who earned the most money also looking at the greatest amount of potential time on the sidelines.

According to the California State Athletic Commission, Brock Lesnar, Jake Shields, and Diego Sanchez have all been suspended for up to 180 days resulting from damage sustained in their bouts and will be unable to compete again during that period of time without first receiving a doctor’s clearance.

Lesnar’s forced vacation was related to one of his eyes, while Shields apparently experienced blurred vision after his split-decision win over Martin Kampmann and Sanchez may have fractured his wrist en route to earning “Fight of the Night” honors against Paulo Thiago.

Patrick Cote and Court McGee, whose respective match-ups were shown prior to the PPV on Spike TV, are also looking at the possibility of a six-month break before returning to action. Cote’s affliction is listed as “retina”, though nothing specific is mentioned beyond that, with McGee looking at time out due to a possible broken hand.

The complete list of UFC 121 medical suspensions can be found below:

Gilbert Yvel – Suspended 45 days with 30 days of no contactChris Camozzi – Suspended for 60 days (left-brow laceration)Dongi Yang – Suspended for 45 days with 30 days of no contactPatrick Cote – Suspended for 180 days (retina)Court McGee – Suspended for 180 days (possible broken hand), suspended for 45 days for precautionary reasons with 30 days of no contactRyan Jensen – Suspended 45 days with 30 days of no contactBrendan Schaub – Suspended 45 days with 30 days of no contactGabriel Gonzaga – Suspended 45 days with 30 days of no contactTito Ortiz – Suspended 45 days with 30 days of no contactDiego Sanchez – Suspended 180 days (possible wrist fracture)Paulo Thiago – Suspended 60 days (facial laceration)Jake Shields – Suspended 180 days (bleeding in eye/blurred vision)Brock Lesnar – Suspended 180 days (eye), suspended 60 days (cheek laceration)